The National tribune., 1887-01-20
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS--NOteS from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoNAN's RELIEF CORPS
SAN Francisco, CAL.
ELIZABETH D'A. KISNE, National President.
NELLIE q. BACKUs National Secretary.
WHY IS 1T SECRET?

WHY Is 1T SECRET?
DEAR tribune: would like to know what Gre
dentials a woman must have to be eligible To MEM
bershlp IN the w nc; also why Is II secret or
ganizatiOn2 Neither the old volunteer army, nor
Regular Army. nor the militia are secret IN
any sense, and no one could join the GAR but a
bona-hde soldier. You know there are some reiig-
ious denominations who prohibit a secret OATH
/. The following is from Art. Nv, Chap. ], Rules
and Regulations, W.R.C.:
women of good moral character and correct
department in the communities in which they ilve
who have not given aid and comfort to the enemies
OF the Union, who would peTpetuate the principles
to which this association stands pledged. and who
have attained the age of l6 years, shall be eligible
TO membership in the Woman's Relief Corps"
2. The Woman's Relief Corps Is not a military
organization, but has forms and ceremonies for
purposes of better discipline, system and order
No oath Is taken Mt initiation; the candidate simply
promises on her word of honor as a woman not to
reveal the work of the Corps such as the names Of
persons to whom relief is administered, and other
Christian work. more effective when done without
pomp and parade. There is nothing in it to which
the most devout Christian could Object.-EDIToR
RELIEF CORPS.
SYMPATHY FOR MRS. LOGAN.
From all parts of the country Mrs. Logan has re-
ccived sympathy from Corps and Departments
Following is from the Department Of Iowa, Clara
L. Nichols. Department President; Maggie Monroe.
Department Secretary:
HEADo'Rs DEPARTMENT OF Iowa, W.R.C., I
DIES MoISEs, Iowa. Dec. %, 1856.
DEAR Mrs. LOGAN; Ia behalf of the thousands OF
noble, loyal hearted women banded together IN
Iowa Department OF Womans Relief Corps, we
tender To you and your beTeaved family the ten
derest, heartfelt sympathy in this your great aiie
ton.
We fully realize that our volunteer soldiers have
lost their truest friend and champion, and That
justice and right have been deprived Of one of their
ablest. most fearless defenders.
To Iowa soldiers and their families and the old
members Of our Order throughout the State Gen.
Logan and his wife Were held in highest reverence
and loving esteem-for were they not our friends?
And with one accord our heads are bowed III sor-
row forthe loss we sustain and for the greater be-
reavement which has come to you, our dearly
beloved sister.
General Orders No. 8. Department Of Washing
ton Territory, W.R.C.. Viola a. Kenyon, Depart
ment President. and Lizzie X. Herrick, Department
Secretary. read rs follows:
The merry chimes of the Christmas bells have
been turned into notes ofsorrow; for again Nation
mourIls a hero dead. John A Logan, the brave de-
fender of his country. the hOnOred statesman the
loved comTade, Is dead.
As an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie. IL is fitting that the members of the Woman 5
Relief Corps should unite with them in expressions
of sorrow for the noble dead, and in extending to
our bereaved sister, Mrs. Mary A. Logan. and her
children, our heartfelt sympathy and loving respect
in her terrible bereavement
As fitting tribute OF our respect and love, the
charters OF all Corps IN this Department snail De
draped in mourning for period of co days, and at
some regular meeting soon after the receipt OF this
order ali Corps shall set apart an hour for special
services in memory OF his life and services TO his
country.
General Orders, No. g. Department OF Massachu
sets. Mrs. S. Agnes Parker Department President
aud Miss Mary Il. Elliott, Department Secretary
contain the following;
We recognize in the death OF Gen. John A. Logan
the loss of loyal friend in our work. and we unite
with the Grand Army OF the Republic and Other
friends of patriotism throughout the country in ex
pressing our sincerest sympathy to his widow. who
is an honored member ofthe Woman's Relief Corps
An engrossed copy OF the following resoll-
tion passed by Bradford Relief Corps, No. 10
auxiliary to Bradford Post, No. III, GAR, and
signed by Mary A. Wallace, Mary +. Davis and
Susan Harms as committee, has been forwarded 10
Mrs. Logan:
Whereas once again nm order has been sent forth
by the Great Commander OF all, this time summon.
ing Gen John A. Logan from the ranks OF the Grand
Army below to those above. and we are once more
reminded of the fact that the membership of thi:
noble Order Is being rapidly depleted and that we
| as members of the Relief Corps auxiliary thereto
| should feel more and more the importance OF oui
/ work. that should with more eArneastness and
with more zeal labor for the cause we have espoused
that of the soldier and those dependent him. In
his death the Woman's Relief Corps loses Of IL
truest friends and most ardent supporters. i,
shown by the following quotation from his Owl
words:
sufferer on the field Of battle and long aflerward
| and every morn could feel as III silver cord wa
| twined around a capsian Ia the regions of glor,
| and reached TO my heart where IL was anchored by
| the hand of woman. Their hands are so connected
| with the hand of divinity that man without then
would be a barbarian. And TO the Grand Army lie
me say let the time never come when you will con
template the separation OF the Relief Corps from
| the Grand Army. AS the poor old soldier zoe
iotering down the road OF life to meet death moth
| ing can cheer him on as can the ministrations o
| woman in charity. 90 also does the widow OF thu
soldier who las gone before need the consoling in
. Hupnca i tlaul
| God as n member Of the Grand Army that he ha
brought TO the front this auxiliary"
These words with the memory of John A. Logan
will ever be an incentive for US to labor jealousy
| for those whom he SO loved.
| Resolved, That we hereby tender our sympath,
| to the Grand Army OF the Republic in the grea
loss il has sustained in the death of this its shameless
friend and comrade and may each remaining com
rade strive TO emulate his virtues, SO that " he
said of them as 1t is Of him, he was an homes
man."
Resolved. That words fail to express our sympath
aud sorrow for the family Of our deceased frienc
| aud especially for our beloved and honoTed sisel
Mary A. Logan, in her great bereavement by th
death of her husband, an,. we can only pray tha
lie who hath said. when thou passeth throug
the waters I will be with thee, and through tn
| rivers they shall not overflow thee" may sustai
her ia this dark hour Of sorrow aud aflliction.
GOOD WISHES FOR TIE VETERANS.
The ladies of OasaI<is, Mimi. are organizing
Corps auxiliary to Post al. In September last Oh
ladies rendered the Post elegant supper and
the conclusion presented them with beautif'
elk banner. The following New Years song wa
dedicated to the Post by Mrs. Ada johnson:
A song. q song for the coming New Year
Bring JOY. bring comfort and bring us good cheer
May our homes be sweet and our farms well tile
Our purses all full. our cellars well filled;
| MAY husbands be- kind and lovers be true,
Our pathway with love and flowers besirew;
. | From earthquakes and cyclones may earth be fre
Anarchists, strikers in quietude be.
And bring us no sounds Of terrible war,
With roar of cannon, from near or from far;
May villains he made all our laws to fear,
Aud let Us not vote for whisky and beer.
Proudly and grnndly let our emblem float,
Aud safely steer the Republican boat.
: With many kind wishes bid you good cheer
Aud wish you all many happy New Year.